Imphal: A residential house belonging to a Liangmai Naga family was gutted in a suspected arson attack at Leimakhong Chingmang under Leimakhong police station in Manipur, with property losses estimated at around Rs 10 lakh.
According to local sources, a group of armed men allegedly entered the area at around 10:10 pm on October 4 and set fire to the residence of Simon Chawang, also identified as Stephen Chawang, a native of Konsakhul.
The blaze completely destroyed the house, along with household belongings, important documents and other valuables. A video circulating on social media purportedly from Leimakhong Chingmang shows a structure engulfed in flames during the night, with thick smoke visible and security personnel reportedly present nearby.
The Konsakhul (Kon-saram) Village Authority condemned the incident, describing it as a deliberate attack on a member of the Naga community.
In its statement, the village authority alleged that cadres of the Kuki National Front-Progressive (KNF-P) and Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) were behind the arson. Both groups are signatories to the tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement.
The village body said militant groups covered under the SoO framework should not be allowed to target civilians or damage private property with impunity. It termed the incident deeply disturbing, particularly as people across Manipur continue to seek peace and a return to normalcy.
The Konsakhul Village Authority appealed to the Central Government to take immediate steps to restrain armed Kuki groups and urged both the Centre and the Manipur government to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation.
It also called for those responsible to be identified and brought to justice at the earliest.